Customer Reviews

Etc.

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

This Jawbreaker collection might have taken a long time to be released but it is worth the wait, etc starts off with one of the first Jawbreaker songs ever written and performed which is shield your eyes and it's a earlier not as polished version of the one from bivouac, the 2nd track is a b side from Jawbreaker's first demo recorded in '89. The next track Caroline has a 6o's'ish feel to it. Better half is taken from an early split with a band called crimpshrine and the following track split is taken from a split with samiam who actually are often associated with Jawbreaker. The next track 'gutless' is taken from 'let the nerd collecter sweat' which is a lesser known compilation. Then we go onto a cover song which is with or without U2, this is actually a cover of three songs all refined into one theres u2's - with or without you, the vapours - turning Japaneses and im not sure about the misfits cover. Fantastic planet is an aggresive song with a really good bass line to it and alot of shouting really it's not too bad and it's taken from another compilation on very small records the next track Rich is from a compilation on new red archives, i really like this one it was recorded the same time as unfun so you know it's going to be a good one. The record goes from good to been really good now with peel it the f**k down which is taken from Jawbreakers finest release 'bivouac' the songs got a really good drive to it several times. The next track 'pretty persusaion' is taken from suprise your pig - a tribute to REM and is one of the pre-eminant songs on the album along with the likes of friendly fire and sister the next track is kiss the bottle and is a very typical Jawbreaker song, you'll notice that Blakes voice is a little different on this track due to him having throat surgery as it says in the booklet. First step and friends back east are both taken from 24 hour revenge therapy these are two good songs that would really sound even better on 24 hour revenge therapy. Sea foam green is a clever song about a car and is taken from a more easy to get hold of compilation which has bands such as samiam, face to face, the queers, the fist and more on it. Housesitter is taken from a comp that supposed to be about crushes but the songs not really focused on that but it's jawbreaker so it makes sense. The next track is taken from Jawbreakers kind of major label deal with the only single they released it was taken from the fireman single and the track is a psychadellic furs cover into you like a train and it's a damn good cover the third to last track is sister and this is a great song about how you are related to someone yet dont really know them it's a song that gets to you in a good way. Friendly fire is probably the best track available on etc it's a great slow punk song and has a great riff throughout and is one of the b-sides from dear you, i dont get why it was a b side though... Which brings me to the last song which is a re-issue of boxcar (originally on 24 hour revenge therapy) so i cant recommend this enough as with any other jawbreaker release it's pretty much essential for any cd collection not matter what style of music you are in to. The thing you notice with this cd is that the B-sides are as good as Jawbreakers albums which proves what an amazing band they really used to be.

As stated in an a review to be found elsewhere, "If you ever loved Jawbreaker, not for how punk they were but how they made you feel, buy this CD." That sums up the entire Etc. CD.

Starting with an early demo version of "Shield Your Eyes" from 1988, this CD follows Jawbreaker from noisy, raw throated punk rock to the smoother, crisper sounds that caused them to recieve cries of "sellouts!" at their later shows. While the early part of this disc is good, it really grows stronger and stronger as it goes on. From track 12 on, it's one of the best CD's I've ever heard. Songs like "Kiss The Bottle" (my favorite Jawbreaker song of all time), "Friends Back East", "Sea Foam Green", "Sister", and "Friendly Fire" all show Blake's smoother voice and beautifully poetic lyrics. To top this off, post-throat-surgery Blake and the boys re-recorded "Boxcar" during the "Dear You" sessions and tacked it on the end of this CD.

My only complaint with this CD is the layout. After waiting months and months due to what was allegedly a layout problem, I was disapointed with what there was. The lyrics in the Cometbus typeface are a nice touch, as are the (sparse) comments from the band on each track, but I was expecting more. Oh well.

I recomend this CD to anyone who's a fan of Jawbreaker, or is curious as to what the band was all about. It's a solid representation of what they were like, from early demos to major label studio outtakes. If you're into the whole emo/emotional-punk thing that's blowing up now, buy this CD to check out one of the bands that built the foundation.

A great best of/b-sides cd from one of the greatest post-punk, pop-punk, pre-emo (whatever you want to call it, those bands from before alternative was a label you could find on the shelf at your local mall). They caught hell for signing to a major label, but the songs here from that period stand the test of time as good as the earlier work. Part punk, part hardcore, part emo- part of the underground music scene that is no more. This is a GREAT album on its own. It's not esseintial that you know who they were, or know the various groups the band memebers are in now- the name droping game dosen't mean a thing. Just listen and i know you'll want to hear more. They were that good. They are missed. You'll never hear another as good as this was.

Some of these songs are the best that Jawbreaker ever recorded, and if you're like me and watched them come up from those first two 7" records (one of which, unfortunately, isn't included here) listening to this music is a heartbreaking experience: "Caroline," "Rich," "Shield Your Eyes," and especially, all-importantly, "Kiss the Bottle," surely the greatest punk rock love song ever written. Jawbreaker were one of a kind and will always be missed.

Over five years after Jawbreaker's end, Adam and Blackball Records have released another new album. Previously, they'd released a live CD from a show in '96. This time, they release a long-awaited CD of b-sides and unreleased tracks. This is not just a rehash, a best-of, or a live CD. This is virtually a new, full-length CD rising from a five-year-old grave, with 20 tracks and 74 minutes of music. The avid Jawbreaker fan may recognize some of these, but even to the most rabid fan there will be a few completely unheard of songs. And these songs do not disappoint. Better Half, Sea Foam Green and Kiss the Bottle have always been favorites of mine, as well as Sister and Equalized. The "new" songs "Split" and "First Step" really surprised and impressed me, and another song I'd also been unaware of the existence of was ... Friendly Fire, scavaged from the Dear You cutting room floor is also very good, and has studio-quality sound (as far as I know, it had previously been available only in a rough bootleg, same goes for Friends Back East).

But this CD should not be restricted to the die-hard fans, even new listeners will be able to enjoy this CD, which ranks alongside their original four full-lengths.

Besides the music, this album has Dear You reminiscent cover art, and the lyrics have been penned down by Aaron Cometbus. Each track also has been shortly commented on by members of Jawbreaker, and we're shown where each song originates from. The CD itself bears the "When it Pains it Roars" image and slogan.

All in all, this CD has been a long time in the making, and has emerged flawlessly and painstakingly done. And it makes you feel like Jawbreaker has come back together, to release one last CD, one last encore for their loyal fans.

the mp3 album on amazon.com is missing 3 tracks. these would be:

15. Sea Foam Green
16. Housesitter
17. Into You Like A Train

on the cd and vinyl editions of this release. just a warning. otherwise, the all the tracks are awesome from this amazing band that made a serious mark in music.

Jawbreaker is one of my top 3 favorite bands of all time and this was the album completed my collection. i heard a lot of good things about it and was very excited i guess i was a little dissapopinted at first but after repeated listens i really got into it i think that except for 24 hour revenge therapy i have had to lsiten to their albums a few times to really grasp the sounds and the lyrics for some reason. one day it just clicks and im like they're freakin geniuses.this album spans their whole career 1988-95 and its got a lot more hits than misses. i dont know why some these sings were left off of their respective albums cause they seem like qulaity cuts to me. best tracks: "equalized", "split", "kiss the bottle", "sister" ," friends back east",and " friendly fire"

... This new disc is a must for any body that likes good music. This is a nice disc to complete anybody's collection, it provides a nice assortment of hard to find and rare songs that after listening too, makes you wonder why they never put out one more album, or two with the length of this baby. I got it like 4 weeks ago and I cannot bring myself to pull it out of the cd player...I am hooked for life, try it. C'mon, the first ones on me....

This is the way punk rock should be. Withought the stupid macho additudes and political rantings. This album is purely honest. The recordings arnt good quality, but I guess it helps add to the total atmosphere. This album is raw, unrefined, catchy, beautiful, and fun. You will find yourself with these songs stuck in your head a lot. Its great, I suggest you get it. Lots of great tracks.

Four stars only because some of the songs show up on new versions of their original albums. You can't really have this and not those, or those and not this, whatever...